The Veloster will compete against cars such as the Volkswagen Scirocco and will will cost about 20,000 euros (about $25,900) in Germany, compared with the Scirocco's price of 22,500 euros.

The car has single door on the driver's side and two doors on the passenger side, an arrangement similar to that used on Mini Clubman. Hyundai said the Veloster's door configuration makes it more practical than a traditional two-door coupe.

"The Veloster will broaden Hyundai's appeal to European consumers and bring incremental sales, offering a playful front-wheel-drive coupe with a bit more utility," Rushforth told Automotive News Europe an e-mailed response to questions.

The production model "captures the spirit" of the Veloster concept unveiled at the 2007 Seoul auto show and has a dynamic profile inspired by Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" form language, the automaker said in a news release.

The Veloster will be available with the automaker's first six-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine.

Hyundai said more details on the coupe's powertrain and specification for the European market will be available nearer to its European debut at the Geneva auto show in March.